Power Women: Averi Edwards

For Averi Edwards, the pool industry was simply part of the background as she grew up — something her dad did while she was busy figuring out where she wanted to go. “Throughout my childhood and teen years, the thought of working for him or with or around swimming pools never crossed my mind,” she says.

Her father began selling hot tubs when Edwards was young, eventually moving into pool service before teaching himself pool renovation and construction. Edwards watched the business grow, but after high school, she went a different direction — or at least tried to. College never quite clicked. “I’d go to school and drop out and go to school and drop out,” she recalls. “I’m a hands-on learner, so the classroom and I didn’t really get along.”

After repeated encouragement from her dad, Edwards agreed to give the family business a try. Within weeks, everything changed. “I was like, ‘OK, this is cool. I love this. I found my thing.’ ”

She started at the bottom, servicing pools; it’s a foundation she now considers critical to her success. “Looking back, that’s the best way I could have started because I learned swimming pools from the inside out,” Edwards says. “It’s been extremely valuable being able to apply my service knowledge to what I’m doing now.”

Edwards joined Edwards Pool Construction in 2014. Nearly 12 years later, she is vice president, overseeing service, operations, sales support and accounting — all while wearing more hats than most job descriptions could capture. She stays closely connected to the field, acting as a constant resource for her technicians. “I am in contact with my guys in the field all day, every day,” she says. 

Edwards leans heavily on manufacturer relationships, industry Facebook groups and her involvement with Tributary Revelation, a network of high-end builders from across the country. “Having that group to bounce ideas off has been really cool,” she says. “You [learn to] think outside the box.”

Operating in a male-dominated industry, Edwards learned early that earning credibility often required extra effort. “I feel like I’ve had to work twice as hard sometimes to be taken seriously,” she says, recalling interactions where people asked to speak to her dad instead.  

“Early on, I tried to prove myself with politeness, but now I prove myself with confidence and clarity,” she says, skills she says need to be developed. “It’s not a personality trait.”

Her leadership style reflects that growth. “When I started, I was really timid,” she says. Over time, she learned to set expectations, hold boundaries and handle conflict. “I don’t think leadership is just directing people. It’s protecting standards and building trust and being able to stay calm when things get hard.”

Integrity is the cornerstone of Edwards Pool Construction. “[We value] doing the right thing, even when it’s harder or more expensive or nobody’s watching,” she says. “We don’t take shortcuts. We stand behind our construction practices and our word.”

Operating in Wichita, Kansas, brings challenges and opportunities. The market is heavy with vinyl pools and freeze-thaw cycles that influence everything from material selection to maintenance philosophy. Edwards is part of a growing effort to rethink seasonal pool closures. “The oldest pools we have that are in the best shape are the pools that have run 365 days a year from day one,” she says.

Edwards measures success by what lasts, both at home and in the work she leaves behind. “Success is building stability and safety for my family,” she says. Professionally, it’s about pride and legacy. “I want our name to mean something.”

And for women considering a career in pools, Edwards keeps her advice simple: “Don’t be scared. If it scares you, do it anyway.”

Averi’s Toolbox

A must-have tool: A good set of noise-canceling headphones. Our office gets chaotic, and sometimes silence is the most productive tool.

Best on-the-job time-saving tip: Touch things once. If I open a message or invoice or a problem arises, I try to deal with it right then instead of revisiting it multiple times. 

A habit that helps you reset: The gym helps me relieve stress and work through problems. Also, when I get home, I try to put my phone on silent for a couple of hours and be fully present with my kids. They are my best stress relief.

A mentor or peer who shaped how you work: My father and grandpa (Steve and Frank Edwards) instilled a hard work ethic and taught me how to persist from a young age. Harold Evans of Orenda Technologies has impacted both my life and our business.

Go-to caffeine order: I’m an admitted caffeine fiend — a quad iced latte in the morning and a sugar-free energy drink every afternoon. I’m not proud, but I am consistent.

Music to get you through the day: It changes with my mood, and I rotate playlists constantly. My music taste is all over the place, but it’s a big part of how I manage energy.